In today’s day and age, cyber-attacks and security breaches are not abnormal or new. COVID-19 has provided hackers with an opportunity to carry out their attacks as people are distracted and mostly working from home. Working from home can make people vulnerable and more at risk of a security breach especially if you are working off of an unsecured internet router. There has been a significant increase in phishing emails since the start of the pandemic and hackers have been using the fear of COVID-19 to get people to react to their emails and gain access.
The Trucking Industry has been a target for hackers. The reason is due to large amounts of money companies need to pay for their larger bills and their increased online activity. For ransomware attacks, this means that the hacker can get larger payments than one could from a small to mid-sized company in a different industry. On top of the return value, many trucking companies do not focus heavily on cyber security training or advanced technology, making it an enticing target.
There are some warning signs to look for and procedures to follow during these trying times. Look for; any unusual emails or messages, unfamiliar micro-charges on cards, any strange behavior from co-workers and vendors that may come through your email, and data that appears when it shouldn’t. The best policy during this time is to just report anything that seems abnormal, whether it is a co-worker asking an odd question or a vague email with a link or attachment. Some other precautions to take would be to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network), which makes passwords more complex and secure any devices inside the truck. As cliché as it is, if you see something, say something remains the best practice.
